JOEL ROBLES revealed he used old pal David De Gea as the inspiration to make himself Everton’s No 1.
Spanish keeper Robles faces Tottenham today having won over boss Ronald Koeman — after starting the season as understudy to Maarten Stekelenburg.
Robles, 26, considered asking for a move, admitting he was “angry” at the new Toffees chief who joined from Southampton and brought fellow Dutchman Stek with him.
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Now he has seven clean sheets in 12 Prem starts.
He saw fellow Spaniard De Gea — who he became pals with at the Atletico Madrid academy — battle through his own troubles at Manchester United.
And Robles said: “It was a fight for him over here. He’s a good example for a goalkeeper.
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“He had times where he wasn’t at a good level for him, and it was difficult.
“Everything is different in England, the football is very different.
“But his mentality, the way he fought to keep going has been a good example for me and we are still friends.
“We talk on the telephone and that is good.
“If I’m honest, the first two, three weeks to a month when Koeman said, ‘You are the No 2’ I was frustrated and I did think about leaving.
“I respect the situation but I had go home, try and understand the coach then after I had to work hard.
“So many times before I am told this, so I had to change my mentality and I needed to go to training and work harder.
“I don’t have a problem with other goalkeepers in my life.
“David and me were rivals, there was Courtois, here Tim Howard and then Maarten.
“But you need to fight for your position and to be No 1.”
Boss Koeman is a favourite to take over at Barcelona this summer.
He won four successive La Liga titles there as well as the European Cup in the early Nineties.
The deep-thinking Dutchman is still well regarded at his old club and has refused to answer questions about replacing Luis Enrique.
But Robles insisted: “Koeman is happy at Everton and this is most important. Just as important we are very happy with him.
“You look at Koeman and you can see what he is trying to do here.
“He’s given us a different direction and we are enjoying the moment.”
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